Thunder rout Warriors to grab edge in West final

23 May 2016 - 16:36

Oklahoma City Thunder players Kevin Durant (R) and Russell Westbrook (L) celebrate against the Golden State Warriors in the first half of their NBA Western Conference Finals game three at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, 22 May 2016. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH

Washington: Behind 33 points from Kevin Durant and 30 by Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder humbled defending NBA champion Golden State 133-105 Sunday to seize the lead in their playoff series.

The Thunder grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals and captured momentum with the lopsided blowout, making Tuesday's fourth game at Oklahoma City crucial for both clubs.

"We have got to keep the same intensity, same attack mode," Westbrook said. "They didn't have the best record in the NBA for nothing. We've got to come back with the same mindset and play with the same intensity."

Golden State, which set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins, has not lost two games in a row all season but will have to quickly bounce back from an embarassment.

"Using our brains, making them compete, moving the ball -- we didn't do any of those things and we got what we deserved," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

"I'm confident we're going to come out and play a great game in game four. We'll see what happens."

Either the Thunder, who have won 10 best-of-seven series in a row when going up 2-1, or the Warriors will face the Eastern Conference winners, the Toronto Raptors or Cleveland Cavaliers, in next month's NBA Finals.

In addition to sparking the highest-scoring performance by any team in any NBA playoff game this year, Westbrook and Durant each added eight rebounds and blocked two shots while Westbrook also contributed 12 assists.

"We've got a physical team, an athletic team and we tried to use that to the best of our ability," Westbrook said. "Our guys do a great job of putting in the work every day. My job is to put the ball in their hands."